Flawed Sense of Priorities

As I have just moved in to a new residence, I don't have access to television news yet. Some things have to come first, like groceries and electricity. Oh, and Internet. Internet is a necessity for me because not only can I communicate with all my friends on Facebook, I can also look for job postings, watch videos on YouTube and pay bills. I've also got to look for a new E-Z Up tent for my art festivals, because the last one bit the dust at my Lexington show.

I've also found that I can access crossword puzzles, so my much-beloved habit of drinking my morning coffee (now in the outside courtyard, amongst my palm trees and banana plants) can be happily continued, and I've discovered BBC and CNN online.

I was skipping over some of the more interesting news on Sunday and read how a hot-dog vendor in New York City was paying $54,000 a MONTH to "rent" a spot to sell his wares. People, that is just a hair less than most HOUSES cost in the southeastern United States right now. He got behind in his payments to the city of New York by three months, so they booted him off his four square feet of "rented" space by the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

I have two questions at this point. First, how much does this man charge for a hot dog and second, isn't the Metropolitan Museum of  Art a public building? 

The spot in question was near the museum steps, on the sidewalk. Both of which are public spaces. If he wanted to dance a jig in his bathrobe every day on that spot, he would be allowed to by law. Why then, can he not sell hot dogs?

And, if this man makes that much money that he can even THINK about affording $54,000 a month to pay for a spot to sell hot dogs, then why can he not fight this in federal court?

There is something wrong with this picture on several levels. 

I researched the price of a vendor hot dog on the streets of New York (gotta love the Internet) and it's approximately $4.95, loaded up with all sorts of condiments. Math question: How many times does $4.95 go in to $54,000? Answer: 10,909+ This man sells over ten-thousand-nine-hundred-and-nine hot dogs a month? At the very least?

You know, I'm happy if I sell over $1,000 worth of art at a festival, and this man is racking up incredible amounts of cold, hard cash selling hot dogs.

Look for a "Doodles Hot Dogs" yellow festival trailer near you soon!